5.26.14 Memorial Day Fun

I love Memorial Day. Since I can remember we have went to decorate graves. As per the laws of the earth and heavens there are more and more family and friends to remember and bedeck with flower each year. My talented grandmother has a large flowery yard. She prepares over 20 bouquets to place on the many gravesites of our family and friends. I think this is a very important tradition to teach my children. I love hearing the short stories about these important people. And spending some quite time thinking about how they impacted my life and wondering what I can do to emulate the good they shared.  It's also just plain pretty and fun to hunt for that one stone or visit with neighbors that are doing the same things.

The last two years we took the opportunity to also help prepare the cemetery by placing the flags and crosses on the veterans graves. This has been a good chance for my family to get some perspective on the many people who served them in the past. It's also pretty.

  

We have been fortunate to listen to the veternas memorial program at the cemetart complete with 21 gun salute and taps. This year a 19 year old enlisted army  kid was there. Chilling to realize that so many burried there were his age or close to it when their vibrant life ended. Made it more real than I have really comprehended in the past.

The annual Corn family picnic follows the commemoration. We hear some history we gorge on good food and my dad does a hay ride. This year as the kids continue to get more mature they are taking turns driving the tractor. They had a great time and many HUGE smiles when they came driving into the yard showing their new found skills.

It's so fun to watch the kids become friends as they grow. These two were just sitting dreaming and scheming. Trouble and Awesomeness combine.

5.26.14 Last Week of school

 We survived another year of school. This was easily our best year. School, friends, schedules etc just went well. It was fun and filled with growth, excitement, and goodness.

This young man is one of the reasons for Aliza's amazing academic success. When she started at willowcreek she was a middle of the road student. Doing okay but not really standing out in any other way than being a great helper with the other students. This young man was breaking all records set in reading. He is fun, kind, and a hard worker. The teachers all praise him as being an amazing reader and learner. Aliza's heart began to burn with competition desire. She realized she could also be a great reader. She struggled in math but reading she could do. She taught herself to speed read, she learned the AR system and she read! No Harry Potter's not much fantasy but just about everything else. Well these two shattered all the school records that included students up to 8th grade. They are displaying the new plaque that has been added to the school collection. They have both know read 2500 points worth of literature and are hoping to get to 3000 by the end of the summer. Competition and reward is a great thing when used creatively. Harold was 2nd highest in his class after this young man. They are great friends and I am very appreciative of his example of gracious living and loving friendship.
She also won the highest badge earning math student. For the kid that struggled so much last year I was amazed and so grateful for her work and breakthrough. I am thankful for teachers who work with the students individually to help them recognize their talents and blast throw their weaknesses.

 The last day of school is filled with a community potluck and field games with teachers and parents. I love the warm feeling of friendship and love that abounds at these events. I love the realization of the school that it takes all of us working together to achieve success. There are senior citizens not related, young families, teachers and their families, and lots of happy kids on these days. It is good.

Our papoose Millie. Those baby backpacks are the best way to manage little people at big functions. She even fell asleep on Greg's back. She was happy to watch all the action.

Harold copying the Warrior on his new Willowcreek for the next year.

Anna displaying her award for 4.0 and highest reader. She has come a long way too. From a shy 1st grader that lacked reading confidence to a fun compassionate friend and music loving teenager! No more elementary school for her!!

The boys enjoying some free time. Sprinklers are great and tempting on hot days. These two are clowns and best friends. Siblings are such a blessing

The kids came home with unopened boxes of crayons, paints and markers. While I was dismayed at the lack of use, I decided we could fix that. So we have had art projects the last couple days. The kids are very creative and have their own styles. Interestingly different. http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/ is our guide. Lots of ideas.

Poor Livy is relying on the doorbell to meet her 'let me in the house needs.'  It's always hard to readjust to the faster paced big kids. She is really enjoying their fun games though. She is a very adaptive independent trooper.

5.19.14 Around the Farm

This weekend we finished planting potatoes. The kids had planted 50lbs of seed last weekend but it just didn't feel like enough so we planted some more this weekend.

There are so many valuable lessons from gardening. Working together, attitude adjustments, you get what you work for, patience, perseverance, endurance, and good old fresh air and dirt! How thankful I am my children are able to learn these skills from a master teacher. She has a knack for turning frowns upside down. The soil was much nicer to start with this year. Soft and easy enough for the kids to dig.
The rains have continued to come in a decent amount each week. We are thankful.

After the garden and working at other places the two older girls and I went to get pedicures. This is not an all the time thing. Last year at the family reunion Allison insisted on rubbing my feet while I nursed my baby to sleep one night. I had never had another person really rub my feet and was hesitant. She insisted and it was a heavenly gift of service and kindness. That memory stayed with me and I may have mentioned it more than 5 times in the vicinity of my sweet daughter. Well she began rubbing my feet at night while we were reading scriptures as a family. Then of course my other kids had to join in and it became a kind-of routine.
As I was pondering what I could give her that she would enjoy and wouldn't be more stuff to try to tolerate in our house when I heard again about the joys of pedicures. I booked an appointment at the beauty college and off we went.
It was not quite what I expected. The girls were very impressed. Anna said it was the best ever mostly because we were together. She really enjoyed listening to the beauticians. I love meeting new people and finding out about them. I hope that it is teaching my children to be engaging and brave in talking to others. 

5.22.14 A Mother Hen

To continue on with the farm theme of the week. ...

This is a mother hen. To be precise a brooding mother hen. She has been sitting on her nest for about 14 days. She is usually a bit more puffed out. This lady just sits and sits all day long for a whole month. Rarely and quickly leaving her eggs for food and water. Stalwartly protecting and caring for those developing eggs. We have never had or seen a brooding hen before. My heart goes out to her.

Christ used many farm references in His parables. I am learning what it means to act like a mother hen. To gather your chickens under your wings. I want to be focused like the mother hen. I have tried to give my all to being a mother intent on raising healthy children who are able to fend for themselves and survive in this crazy world we live.

This year has been great school wise. We have had a peaceful, stretching, learning year. It was just good. I think a big part of this was the collaboration of many parents sharing their good kids with my kids. Friends! Yes, good friends have made a huge difference. There is a big knee jerk movement to want to protect and isolate our families from anything negative, different than our ideal, or even things that are below our objectives. However I'm wondering if this is not a healthy notion. As an adult I have to deal with the good- snuggle babies, strong healthy funny big kids, a wonderful date; and the bad- teething feverish babies, sassy eat all the food in the house and complain about chores big kids, and a gone a lot of the time husband. That's life. It's good and it's bad.

In the beginning with Adam and Eve they learned that to know good and evil is to become like God (Gen 3:22).  They had prayer, we have prayer and families. So much of mothering is helping my children digest and understand the world they live in. How political movements work for or against God's plan and families, how to treat and tolerate others, how to be strong and know their value as children of God. To experience good and evil and to choose the better.

After six years of public school I'm wondering if the bloom where you are planted is not rock solid advice? Make each place better. Make a difference where and when you can and the rest of the time learn to deal, think through and articulate why you don't agree or do, and above all know that this too shall pass. I really don't think there is an ideal. I think there are great and perfect moments, experiences, and opportunities. I think the come and go and on and on.

I do know that the good, fun, clean talking and thinking kids, and energetic creative adults who interact with my kids daily have made their lives richer and happier. They have allowed me time to focus on other projects and spend much needed time on my smaller kids. I do not kiss the school bus, nor do I want to kick the system. I am learning to work with both situations.

And how thankful I am to the other mother hens who are doing the same. The families who are likewise teaching, sheltering, loving, and sending great kids into the world. My kids have been academically challenged for the better by these kids.  They have learned to relax, to have fun, to play and love another kid. It is such a relief to my worried heart to hear stories and watch them with their friends. Thank you parents for sharing your children with my family. And truly the kids that aren't their best friends, the ones we have prayed for and wrung our hands over, the ones we get so frustrated with, we have learned MUCH from them too. I think it takes both. Isn't the saying "Come What May and Love it...?" The love part is hard. But we learned a lot of lessons, and had important discussions digesting the comments and perspectives of those kiddos too. 

So like this mother hen who is keeping her eggs protected safe and warm I hope to offer a place of security, digesting and analyzing, and spiritual strength to my children and even their friends. Yet I am coming to realize, sadly, that my job is not always to sit on my children, but to teach them to fly and fend for themselves.

I loved the counsel in Linda S. Reeves conference talk:

   Brothers and sisters, how do we protect our children and youth? Filters are useful tools, but the      greatest filter in the world, the only one that will ultimately work, is the personal internal filter that comes from a deep and abiding testimony of our Heavenly Father’s love and our Savior’s atoning sacrifice for each one of us.

How do we lead our children to deep conversion and to access our Savior’s Atonement? I love the prophet Nephi’s declaration of what his people did to fortify the youth of his day: “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, [and] we prophesy of Christ … that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”⁴

And we work! We teach them and we love them. Have a great weekend.

Mark staining the deck. All the kids are working to earn money for summer projects.

A deck stainer I wasn't counting on. She is a busy little one who always seems to be in the thick messy part of things.

 Loved the book Holes by Louis Sachar. Intriguing and very entertaining story. Heard the movie is good too, maybe we'll find time over the summer. The Great Wheel, was really good. We are now reading Ida Early Comes Over the Mountain. Loving it! They call it a Marry Poppins but so much more realistic some good bullying and repentance lessons there. Oh summer days with a good book! Enjoy.

5.21.14 our Barnyard

Last night I got my birthday wish. All I wanted this year was my super handy husband to give me his time fixing up our barnyard. There were various fences to mend, animals to be dealt with and a few other items I just don't want to do. While I appreciate the animals and all the benefits- eggs outside my door, bacon and sausage, and roast beef and hamburger it is outside my scope of skills. My grandmother wisely counseled don't do everything or you will have to do everything. Good advice. And nowadays just trying to keep the kitchen clean, the food staples in the house and the little ones semi content seems to be all I get to.

So we had a fun family night of working together, sharing some not daily experiences and loving having our strong skilled dad around to teach us how things should be done.

Monday night we had loaded up pigs to take to town.

See all the helpers. Discovered we could keep Livy dressed by zipping her into her clothes. Lots of observation and learning. No one got slopped. Phew they would still be living outside. Pigs are odorous!

Reed had it in his mind that this meant Grandpa and Grandma should go with mom to deliver the pigs. Sometimes Lloyd takes them. One time I sent Reed with money in his pocket to buy Grandpa a hamburger. Well this really  made an impression on Reed so he demanded that was how it should be done this time. Because we had another good soaking rainstorm (2 weekends in a row now!!) I gamely asked if grandpa and grandma could go. They agreed and we three adults and 4 kids headed to town. It was not usual for us super busy adults to all go on one trip that any of us could have managed alone. But it was nice to hear stories, enjoy extra hands, and take a lesson from my son. Slowing down and making some memories is better than being super efficient, and less stressful! I appreciate grandparent interactions and the great memories my kids are getting from their devoted and delightful grandparents.

However this created a problem, no piggies at our house. That was quickly remedied by getting some weener pigs from our supplier. But there is quite a size difference and thus containment issues with little pigs and big pigs. Greg's attention was sorely needed to keep a happy wife. He had a great helper who was thrilled to have found Pink cowgirl boots. She is a funny duck that loves her daddy. 

We needed more tools and supplies to fix the pig pen and headed to the farm to find what we needed. We found the crew getting ready to load up some yearling heifers to come to our abundant pasture. It was not a stellar cow night but in the end the job got mostly done. The kids continue to get better and better and more confident managing cows. 

Grandpa has great skill in patiently loading animals for slaughter. It is good to learn perseverance from one who is a master teacher. Learn wisdom in thy youth...  Grandma is a great crew boss helping teach us all how to get the job done.

Aliza was very tired from a field trip and stayed home with this one. Aliza was asleep but Millie was loving a good soaking snuggle session from a favorite sister. She was all smiles resuling from all the time just being held.

As per usual turn of events we moved on to fixing pasture fence, finishing pig pen, and killing roosters.  We probably should have turned in after the cows were turned in but we have had 8 roosters that are getting too Cocky...ha-ha! Seriously though cock fighting chasing the hens too much etc. And what good are 8 roosters besides eating lots and being noisy? Not much. So we took care of the problem and killed and skinned some roosters. Of course no one could go to bed so we were up very late. I'm bracing myself for the final clean to get them roasting. Fried chicken of old was no easy task. We are so spoiled just grabbing it at the store completely dead, skinned, de-boned, even marinated if we choose. 

Each boy took a turn 'harvesting' chickens. Livy was very curious

Getting to the meat. John plucked, I don't like skin so I instructed them just to skin em' down.

Technically this is called dressing a chicken. Many a city housewife new to the country would ask for undressed chickens and get a feathery mess instead of a clean meaty bird.

Chickens are docile at night making them much easier to work with. Hence the need for a flashlight.

The girls were adamant that they watch. They didn't touch but observed the process.

Just another night on the farm. I love living in the country. I can't quite capture how full my heart is of the good feelings of camaraderie and shared purpose. We are a team, a family team, an eternal family. Of that I'm sure and humbly thankful. Now to further dress my cocky meat. Have a great day!

5.11.14 A Mother's Day to Remember

This year’s mothers day is one I need to remember. It started Saturday with a busy morning working with my kids making breakfast to be delivered to lots of special moms. We completed our task by noon and were out the door off to drop our brunch and run. We made it to all the houses by 2:40 and headed back to home. We were out of milk and needed to get a few weekly items at the store so we stopped in the big town near us to do our shopping. As we were completing the gas station routine and dropping the bank deposit off Aliza asked if we could go to the library? We had time, if we hurried, so we ran in the library. 

Oh how we love that place. It is so great to feel all those books with all their excitement, adventure, information, and entertainment waiting to be selected. As usual we found a lot to take home to enjoy. We rushed to the store. Of course no one wanted to get out their heads were buried in the book treasures. I got the milk and we headed home to host the missionaries for dinner. It was a near perfect day. Time spent doing the things I love. Some service that would make other smile, and hopefully know how much we appreciate and love them, and time spent with my kids reading. It is good to be a mom.

My  Grandma's and mom at the mother's tea

On to Sunday. Greg was asked to speak on mother’s day. I was not excited as it is a bit uncomfortable to be talked about in church when you are either undeserving or too deserving. We had discussed the talk all week but had nothing committed to paper until Sunday morning. Greg was up early. I woke a little later and we started hammering it out. The kids were instructed to take care of themselves and the littles and to just be good as dad was in serious need of some peaceful contemplation. We got the talk worked out by 8:20 and sat down to the fabulous breakfast we had put together the day before. It was delicious! 

Quickly got ready and out the door to be right on time at 9. My parents showed up to listen to Greg. We all headed in and got situated. The kids in the congregation were semi-restless, possibly excited to be celebrating their mom’s. Greg did very well. My mom headed out with Livy, whom she discovered was not finished dressing on the under side. While addressing that problem she missed the problem inside the chapel.

The primary got up to sing and I noticed Harold not singing much. I was a little miffed. He did great at his school program on Thursday. He does great at any other venue besides church singing. Well after scanning the rest of my kids singing I saw a blur of white and had the urgent thought get up and get to that. I found my son out cold on the floor at the center of the chapel.

Some moments stop your heart as a mother. This son of mine has given me more than I need. From his early birth, to his breathing difficulties, then his normal childhood adventures, he makes me catch my breath. Today crouched over him hoping and begging him to wake up or breathe- he was unconscious for several minutes- was another. It was that awful feeling of hope and concern for their future. Fortunately he landed at the feet of a hygienist, who was sitting next to a critical care nurse. An EMT was a few rows back, who had also passed out as a youth at a choir concert off of bleachers. And another nurse was a few benches over. Between the three of them they positioned him in the recovery position and applied ice to relieve some overheating concerns. They also checked him for injury. He isn’t really hurt. He has a bruise on his chin and a slight scratch on his forehead. It was scary but we were so blessed to be spared serious accident.

Harold at home after the fall. z

Mark told Greg later "I felt him moving so I stepped out of the way!"

And down Harold went. We came home and sat on the lawn just visiting and observing. He is totally normal and fine. I am so thankful we were spared. 

Millie  squares off with Tiger the cat. The Cat was overwhelmed!

Sue was monitoring this experience. She was teaching the little kids how to push and jump on and how to balance inside. she is so good with children.

When the kids came home they had filled out worksheets on mom. I have to report them as they are priceless!

All about mom:

MY mom is: 33 (John & Addie), 34 (Mark), 36 (Aliza), 2 (Reed)

She likes to: cook (J), clean (Ad), serve (M), cook, clean, have fun with us (Al), eat eggs and read books (R)

The best thing she cooks is: chocolate chip cookies (J), crepes (Ad), cookies (M), everything (Al), meat (R)

Hear favorite food is: chocolate (J), hamburgers & hashbrowns (Ad), casserole (M), tacos (Al), ham and chicken (R)

Her favorite thing to do to relax is: read (J), nurse Millie in the rocking chair (Ad), read (M), to sleep (Al), to cook bacon (R)

Our next source of bacon! They rooted through their pen so Greg and Harold fixed it up Saturday morning. Good thing they are nice piggies

We like to: read (J), play after church (Ad), have fun (M & Al), ride tractors (R) together

She is really good at: cooking (J, Ad & Al), reading (M), cleaning up pee on the floor (R)

As you can see my mom is special because: She helps me learn (J), she loves us and cares for us (Ad), she takes care of us (M), she is awesome (Al), she is beautiful like a princess (R)

Oh I love having so many kids to be a mother too. I laughed and laughed over Reeds noticing my abilities. 

Years ago Sue was in the paper on Mother’s day. She said the best part of having so many kids was she got that many more hugs, kisses, and good times with each child. I feel the same way. While I do endure more years of crying toddlers I also enjoy their precious smiles, their funny comments, and the joy of having children in my home.

The girls are working hard with grandma to make a special mother’s day dinner. I’m sure it will be delicious and they did a great job keeping it a secret for more than 24 hours. Happy Mother’s day.

FYI Greg's talk centered on the favorite scriptures of the mother's in his life

Eyres quote

What are we trying to do? In other words what are our objectives?... If you don’t have a clear idea of your specific objectives you’ll end up reacting instead of acting. If you want to succeed you need some precise goals. How can you get so involved in something with so little idea f what you want to do with it?

Helaman 5:12 Doris

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Malachai 4:5-6 Bette Lifelong Geneology Enthusiast

5 ¶Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

DUTY Keith McMullen Presiding Bishopbric

Duty does not require perfection, but it does require diligence. It is not simply what is legal; it is what is virtuous.

Alma 32: 37-40 Renae Corn a parenting lesson she learned some years ago

 37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

 38 But if ye neglect the CHILD, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

 39 Now, this is not because the CHILD was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the CHILD, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

 40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word- TESTIMONY, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

 41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the CHILD as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

 42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the CHILD  in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

Alma 57:21 Sue learned from watching others suffer the choices of disobedience and rejoice from peace and blessings received because they were obedient

 21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.

Alma 48:17 Sue  her hope for her children

17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.

Proverbs 31:10

10 ¶Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

 13 She, and worketh willingly with her hands.

  16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.- Especially grandma Lois who spent entire married life saving to be ready to purchase next farm often doing without personal things

 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

Ecc 3:1 Amanda

 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

The Moral force of Women D. Todd Christoferson

Women bring with them into the world a certain virtue, a divine gift that makes them adept at instilling such qualities as faith, courage, empathy, and refinement in relationships and in cultures. When praising the “unfeigned faith” he found in Timothy, Paul noted that this faith “dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice.”^{1  2 Timothy} 1:5

A woman’s moral influence is nowhere more powerfully felt or more beneficially employed than in the home.

President Thomas S. Monson has counseled: “If we are to walk with head held high, we must make our contribution to life. If we are to fulfill our destiny and return to live with our Father in Heaven, we must keep His commandments and pattern our lives after the Savior. By so doing, we will not only achieve our goal of eternal life, but we will also leave the world richer and better than it would have been had we not lived and performed our duties.” ⁸